FAQ - Applying to APS Montessori

Because of the three-year cycles in Montessori education, natural
entry points into the program are as a three-year-old and in first and
fourth grades. Although children are accepted at other times, it is
usually easier for children to enter the program at the beginning of the
three-year cycle.

Step-by-step: How to apply for all 3 and 4 year olds
(and 5 year olds applying to schools other than Drew Model School)

Applications for three-year-olds should be submitted
between February 1 - April 15 (by 4pm on April 15th) to each school of
interest to be considered for the lottery.

Learn which schools your child is eligible to attend by first figuring our your neighborhood school on the APS website. (http://www.apsva.us/ Click "Registration" and "Boundary Locater")

You can apply to multiple schools, depending on your neighborhood school.

Deliver an application to each school of interest before the April 15, 4:00pm deadline.

If you are applying to multiple schools, it is sometimes easier
to fill out one application without a school designated, copy the
application, then check off the appropriate school on its application.

2/3 of the Primary Montessori slots are reserved for lower income families.
You will need proof of income if you want to be considered for
these more available limited income slots (for families making
about $80,000 and below). Please check the APS website for the exact income requirement, it changes year to year.

Primary Montessori Wait Lists

If there are more applicants than spaces available, lotteries are
held at each school to determine placement. A letter is mailed to
notify parents of their child’s status.

A wait list is managed at each school for students not receiving placement.

Please try to accept or reject your spot as soon as possible, in consideration of other families behind you on the wait list.

If you missed the lottery, put your child on each school’s
wait list - no matter what time of year it is. That will help put you in
front of other families who will apply in the following year’s lottery
pool.

Three-year-old applications remain on a rolling wait list through their four-year-old year.

You must reapply for the kindergarten year. The wait list for four-year-olds does not roll over for the kindergarten year.

Students not already at Drew need to download and fill out an APS Pupil Transfer Application:http://www.apsva.us/ Click "Registration" and "School Options" and "How to Apply to Area and Countywide Elementary Schools"

These forms are also available at each elementary school.

Applications should be submitted between February 1 - April 15 (by 4pm on April 15th) to Drew Model School.

Registration begins February 1 for the following school
year. All registration and health requirements
must be met for a child to be admitted.

A public lottery is to determine admittance and a wait list
is managed for students not receiving immediate placement. A letter is
mailed to notify parents of their child’s status.

Kindergarten children should be five years old by September 30 of the year you wish to enroll.

Elementary Montessori Wait Lists

If there are more applicants than spaces available, lotteries are held at each school to determine placement. A letter is mailed to notify parents of their child’s status.

Please try to accept or reject your spot as soon as possible, in consideration of other families behind you on the wait list.

You must reapply each year. The wait list does not roll over from year to year.

Applying to the APS Montessori Middle Years Program

Drew Model School 5th Grade Elementary Montessori students are automatically placed at Gunston Montessori Middle Program unless paperwork is filled out otherwise. All APS 5th graders are given yellow cards to fill out naming their middle school choice and elective choice. Drew Montessori 5th grade students do not need to have a pupil transfer form signed by their home middle school if they want to attend the Montessori Middle Years Program at Gunston.

Non-Drew Model School rising 6th grade students that are interested in the APS Montessori Middle Years Program can apply using the application found on the Gunston website. Students applying for the Montessori middle school program will have a mandatory interview/meeting with
Gunston’s Principal or designee before enrolling in program. You can visit the Gunston or APS Website for more information.

Observing an APS Montessori Classroom

Parents are encouraged to observe a Montessori classroom in action. Observations are for adults only and it is not a good time to ask questions or chat with teachers.

New Students Applying for Drew Model School

Half-hour observations can be scheduled by calling the school at 703-228-5825. Observation visits are
scheduled within five school days of the request. Observations are for adults only and it is not a good time to ask questions or chat with teachers.

Current Drew Students

If your child is moving to a new classroom for 1st or 4th grade, you might want to observe a Lower or Upper Elementary classroom. You might also be interested in observing your child's own classroom while the students are working. Please contact your child's current teacher to arrange an observation. Observations are for adults only and it is not a good time to ask questions or chat with teachers.

Other APS Primary Montessori Programs

Middle School Montessori

Gunston Middle School

Please contact the Director of Counseling at Gunston Middle School
to schedule an observation of an APS Middle School Montessori classroom. 703-228-6900

Documents Needed to Register in APS

If you are enrolling your child in Arlington Public Schools for the
first time (at any grade level PreK-12th grade), you will need to
provide a few documents before s/he starts school:

Proof of the child's age and legal name - usually a birth certificate

Proof of current residency - Proof that the
parent or legal guardian of the student lives in Arlington County,
usually a lease or home purchase documents (acceptable documents
include a current lease, a copy of a mortgage agreement, or a sworn
affidavit from the parent/guardian showing that the student resides in
Arlington)

Social Security Number or a Social Security Status Form

Official school records from another school system or country, if applicable and available

Medical information
that includes immunization records as well as a physical examination
and a tuberculosis screening done within the 12 months prior to starting
school.

Medical information must be submitted on a Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Health Form

There is also an official form for documentation of
tuberculosis screening and forms for administering medications during
school.